Vending-machine.



PATENTBD APR. 24, 1906.

W. C. WHITNEY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLEUATIONEILED I-AE.1'|,1901. RENEWED FEB 17.1906.

BSHEETS-SHBET l PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

W. C. WHITNEY. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION nun) MAB.17,1904. RENEWED FBB,17.190G.

6 SHEBTS-SHEET 2,

' MW Atiarnqy No. 818,594. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906 W. C. WHITNEY. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED man, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 17,1906.

ESHEETS-SHEET 3 Attorney PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

W. O. WHITNEY. VBNDI ION FILED Mum NG MACHINE.

7,1904. RENEWED FEB 11.1906.

APPLIGAT 6SHEETSSHIIET 4 A Home PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

W. 0. WHITNEY. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD-MAR.17,1904. RENEWED FEB. 17.1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR WITNESSES No. 818,594. PATBNTED APR. 24, 19OL W. O. WHITNEY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17.1904. RENEWED FEB. 17,1906.

6 SHEETSSHBET 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM (J. WHITNEY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR-TO SILAS E.

- WILMORE, OF NEW YORK, Y.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

JPatented April 24, 1906.

Application filed March 17 1904. Renewed February 17, 1906. Serial No. 301,686.

tion of the invention, such as will enab e others skilled in the art to whichit apper:

tains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to an improved ven ing-machine, the object of which is to provide an improved machine in which a great variety of goods of different price can be vended and provide a display-receptacle for each and every irariety of goods contained therein.

\A furthEr'object is to provide an improved vending-machine which will be neat and attractive in appearance to tempt the public to buy, which will deliver the goods in a clean and wholesome manner, which will give every purchaser the goods desired or return his coin to him, and if anycolumn of goods is exhausted will automatically display the fact.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed o ut in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing a portion of the front casing removed. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a front view ofcoincontrolling mechanism with certain arts removed. Fig. 4 is a view in horizonta section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the segment-locking mechanism. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating detailed construction of parts operated by the shaft 77. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged views of the coin-guide 41 holder 57, and parts carried thereby. Fig. 10 is a view in section of the five-cent chute. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are detail views of the coin-holder 57. Figs. 15 and 16 are views illustrating the cover-securing mechanism. Fig. 17 is a view in section of the operatingknob. Fig. 18 is a top view of the storageframe. Fig. 19 is a plan view of the starwheel; Fig. 29, a view of the ejector, and Fig. 21 a view of the carton or box.

1 represents a cylindrical; casing secured within a circular flan e2 on a base-plate 3, and the upper edge 0 said cylinder 1 is provided in opposite sides with inclinedslots 4 to receive pins 5 on a recessed ring 6 when the latter is turned slightly, and a springcatch 7 is secured at one end to the casing 1 and projects across a slot. catch 7 is bent or flared to erinit its displace-.- ment by a in 5 and is made with an opening to receive t e pin and lock the ring 6 over the cylinder. The ring 6 has secured therein a conical glass or other transparent coverB, to

the open center of which a metal collar 9 is secured and forms a bearing shaft 10, the lower end of this shaft having a thrust-briefing on antifriction-balls 11 in in cup '12 011 base-plate 3. The extreme up er end of this shaft 10 is made with an ann ar recess to provide a shoulder against which the central hub of a knob or handhold 13 is sefor the vertical This springcured by means of a screw 14, screwed into the u per end of the shaftlO and having its head caring a ainst knob 1'3,and;to compel the rotation o the shaft when the knob is turned the shaft at'itsannular shoulder is made with'lu s 15 to enter correspondin notches in the hub of knob 13. 'Thisshait 1 I is further supported against lateral bending.

or displacement by a crossbar 16, having a central bearing to receive the shaft and secured at its ends upon brackets 17, affixed to the interior of cylinder 1 by means ofscrews 18.

On shaft 10 my improved storage-frame 19 is secured and holds the cartons or boxes containing the goods to be vended. This frame 19 comprises at its top a circular openwork plate or casting 22,- secured centrallyl upon shaft 10, and to which the bent or flanged upper ends'of radial partitions 20 are secured byscrews or rivets, as shown. These radial partitions also pass through a central cylinder 21, secured to plate 22, and has secured therein at its lower end a hub 23, se-

cured to shaft 10 by a set-screw. lFlanged plates 24 are secured to the opposite sides of the partitions 20 at their lower ends, fo ming bottom supports for the-cartons or boxes,

and are spaced apart to provide a passa 'eway between them for the ejector 25,.wlnch will be hereinafter explained. Cross-plates 26 connect the partitions 20 near their 'bottom at their outer edge, and shutters 27 are hinged to these plates 26 and are fastened in an upright position by sprin eclips 28,011

plate 22 to partiallyinclose t e=cartonsi jbr" oxes, but are "suffic ently narrower than the compartments; or columns to permit, a view;

horizontal section a pol-ygpn having a flat side at the inner side of ca column or compartment, thus giving to the compartment in cross-section a general'keystone shape to receive cartons of like shape and utilizeto the greatest extent thespace, of the frame, and this is an improvement over all machines of this character heretofore known.

Beneath the transparent cover 8 a conical display-tray 31 is secured by means of a setscrew 32, passed throu "h a central hub 33 on said tray and a ainst s aft 10 to receive the tray thereon. hisdisplay tray is provided with a series of radial display-compartments for the goods vended,a compartment being located directly: above each and every 001 umn of the storage-frame 19, so as to display the goods 'GOIItBJHGd in the cartons of said compartment and-which will be secured if this compartment is turnedto the front and the roper coin dropped-into the machine- S ould a column or compartment become emptied, the weight 30 of such column will of course rest on bottorn'plates24, when the outwardly-projecting finger 29 thereon will be in a horizontal plane to engage a camplate 34. This cam-plate 34Ais hinged at one side to the inner wall of what 1 term the front casin 35, in which is contained the coin-.controlle mechanism to behereinafter explained. The late 34 has cams at both ends, so that it wi l be engaged and depressed by a weight-finger 29-if the storage-frame is turned in either direction, and to the free end of this cam-plate 34 a rod 36 is pivotally connected and passes up, through front casing 35 andis secured to one side of the central pivotal support of a disk 37, upon which the word- Em ty or other likeinformatio'n is printed. vyhen thecam-plat'e 34 is depressed by a weight-finger 29, the rod 36 will be ulled down to turn disk 37 ton. position to 'splay the word Empty at an opening or window in frorit casing 35, and thus advise the purchaser that this column is empty. When the storage-frame is turned tofree the 4 canvlv-iplate 34, a weight 38 on one. side of disk l-return the parts'to their former positions'and leave a window, or suitabl printed matter may be exposed to indicate thatgpods-are in the'column in front.

The front casing 35 is provided-with coinslots, labeled, respectiveiy, 1 cent, 5 cents. and cents,- so that the purchaser nicating with these slots are chutes 39 of just sufficient wi th to accomflank at the opening or eiejee i knows in which to insert his coin. Commu modate the proper coinas, for instance, should a one-cent coin or ten-cent coin be placed in the five-cent chute it will fall through the open bottom down'intoacarton delivery-pocket 40, formed in the bottom of front casing in convenient reach of the purchaser. Beneath the inner ends of these fcoin-chutes 39 a coin-guide 41 is located, over rooved coinwhich, unless deflected, the coins would jump into a hopper 4.2, which conveys them to the delivery-pocket 40, and to com el the pas-v sage of the proper coin into'gui e 41 I provide a deflector 43', which is in the form of a bell-crank lever pivoted at its angle and normally held behind the l-cent chute by {a spring to guide a one-cent coin into theguide and is provided with suitable stop-pins 43 to limit its movement in both directions, To

the shorter member of the deflector 43 a deending rod &4 is secured and isconnected at its lower end to one endof an approximately horizontal lever 45, pivotedbetweenits ends on a pin or 111 made integral with a bracket 46, secured to l aselate 3. The innerendof lever 45 is provide with'a double camlate 47 in the path of screws 48, projecti own through a star-wheel 49, secured on sliaft 10 by a set-screw.

This star-wheel 49' has a point or projection for each and every compartment, and each point 'of the star-has a" screw-thraded opening to receive a screw 48, and while I'hav'e shown screwsin all the points it is evident that no screws are needed for the one-cent columns, as the deflector isnormally behind the one-cent chute. The

screws 48 for the ten-cent columns are the longest depress the cam-plate 47 the greatest distance, as the 'defiect'or must be thrown to its extreme position behind"tlieten-cent chute. The screws for the five-cent .columns are shorter than those for the tencent goods and move the cam-plate and deflector behind thefive-cen't chute.

Hence it will be seen that when the storage-frame is turned to bring a column to the front the screws automatically bring the deflector behind the proper chute and coins placed'in the wrong chute will jump over the guide 41 into hopper 42 and fall into the deliver y-pocket.

It will thus be seen that the value of'the" 50 diijthe turned up coin-deflectors 53, normally in position to direct a coininto guide- 41; but arod 54 cona platefilare pivoted b t'screws 52,

nects an arm 55 on oneend of this plate with the rod 36, so that when said rod is pulled down by the finger -W8l$'l'lt, as above explained, the plate 51 wili be swung on its pivot to locate the deflectors 53 over the coinguide 41 and in the path of the coins to prevent a coin from entering the guide 41 when an empty column is in operation, but deflect the same into the carton delivery-pocket below.

The lower end of coin guide 41 is contracted, and upright lugs 56 on my improved coin-holder 57 are pivoted thereagamst to ive to the holder its necessary pivotal freeom. This holder 57 comprises two plates secured together by screws and spaced apart by enlargements. A set-screw 58 in a depending arm 59 on guide 41 is adapted to exactly position said holder 57 above a segment 60, and a spring 61 holds the gui e in such position and returns it thereto.

Between the plates of holder 57 and pivoted at one end to one of them is a coin-e ector 62, having a slot 63 in its lower free end, in which is located a pin 64 on a bell-crank lever ,65, pivoted to the outside of the holder, a slot 66 being provided therein, in which the pin 64 moves. This lever is connected by a rod 67 with one end of a bar .68, shaped as shown and ivoted to a fixed cylinder 69. This bar'68 as an inclined slot 70 therein, forming a cam-face against which a pin 71 on one side of a lunger72 bears. This plunger 72 is mounte in a fixedcylinder 69, in which a coiled spring 74 is located to normally hold the plunger in one extreme position, and to the opposite end of the plunger one end of a ratchet-lever 75 is pivotall secured. The ratchet-lever 75 is pivoted between its ends and has a rollen 76 at its free end, bearing against the periphery of star-wheel 49, so that it will be seen when the storage-frame and star-wheel are turned the roller end of ratchet-lever 7 4 will move back and forth over the teeth or points of the starwheel. This motion is communicated to plunger 72 and through the medium of pin 71 against the cam-face of slotted bar 68 causes longitudinal movement of rod 67 and pivotal movement of lever 6-5, which in turn swings the coineector 62 to throw out any coin in holder 57.

once if a purchaser, for instance, places a one centcoin in the machine while the storageframe is set to vend a one-cent article and he then attempts to turn the machine to a five or ten cent column the coin will be promptly thrdwn out by ejector 62 and returned to him in the delivery-pocket. This is also the case where a purchaser without intention to defraud changes his mind about the goods he desires after he has placed the coin in the machine. By turning the stora e-frame he will have his coin returned, as

above explained, and can purchase what he 5 5 desires.-

desires. The segnni-nt 60, alnncrefcrred t0,.is

secured on this shaft 7? directly below coinholder 57, which latter holds a coin in position on the segment in front of a shoulder 78. This shoulder is preferably formed by means of a detaeluiblc block, which can be conveniently replaced in the event of wear:

A pin 7%) projects from one side of segment 60 and is engaged by the notched or hooked end of a pivoted loeking-pawl 80, which provcnts rotary nun'cmcnt of thcsegmcnt 60 and shaft 77 until a coin in position on the segment, when tin:- holdcr 57 and segment 60 through the medium of its shoulder 78 are temporarily coupled together, so that a 1'0- tary movcni int of shaft 7? and segment 60 will move the holder pivot-ally far enough to 'compcl a pin 81 on one edgeof the holder to swing locl-zing-pawl Si) out ofthe path of pin 79 and per Ill. a continued movement of the segment. The coin will jump the shoulder 78 and when the segment moves to its extreme position will d": p down behind the same into hopper 8; for directing the coins into a coin-receptacle 85 in the bottom of cats- A disl; is secured upon shaft 77, and upon its face outwardly-projnoting screws or pins 85 are located, two o l' snid screws or pins being provided and spaced the proper distance apart. An arm Sli is loosely pivoted at one end on the shaft 77 between collars 87 and is disposed between the screws or pins 85 and moved thereby. The lower end of this arm 86 is connected by a pitman S8 with a sliding block or carriage il, mounted to slide in a slotted guide-fin me 3: secured to base-plate 3. To a lug 90 at one side of this block or carriage SH the ejector 25 is pivoted and held in its inclined position by a coiled spring 93, located between the ejector and a shoulder 94. on the blocl; or carriage.

lVhen the shaft 77 is permitted o turn by tho coin-co11lrollrd mechanism above explained, tbc first rotary motion is not communicated to arm so, as the shaft turns partially before a screw or pin 85 engages the arm. This is to give the coincontrolled mechanism at segment 60 suliicicnt time to llillOt'li illt locking-pawl S0. The continued movement of shaft 77 swings arm 80 downward and forward to draw the carriage 91 and ejector '25 lorward, compelling the latter to engage the lowest carton or box 95 and force it forward onto an inclined plane 96, down which it falls to the delivery-pocket.

This delivery-pocket has a toothed guard 97.

at its inner upper end to prevent the introduction ol a hand or tool through the deliverypocket to the interiorofthe machine. After are in their set position.

the carton or box 95 falls into the deliverypocket the operator releases the crank-arm 98, when a coiled spring 99, secured to one side of disk 84, returns'the parts to their former positions.

To prevent a purchaser from turning the storage-frame after he has inserted a coin and started to turn the operating-shaft 77 I provide the disk 84 with a \I-shaped notch 100 in its periphery, into which the angular end of a curved lever 101'is located when the parts The lever 101 is pivoted between its ends and connected at one end by a rod 102 with'a catch-bar 103 hinged at one end. This catch-bar103 is notched at one end, so that when it is raised its notched portion will be in front of ratchet-lever 75 and lock the same against pivotal movement, hence locking the star-wheel 49 and preventing the turning of the storage-frame. This upward and locking movement of catch-bar 103 is effected just as soon asdisk 84 begins seriesof" ratchet-teeth.

- series of notches.

to turn, as one end of the lever 101 is for ed out against the periphery of the disk, which.

movement elevates the other end or the lever the toothed section. At least two notches 1.05 are necessary, one notch at each end of a In brder, however, to insure'the proper placingof the disk 104 on the shaft 77 and also to providenew teeth when one series become worn, I prefer to prvide the" disk with four notches 105 'and provide the periphery of the disk with several A triangular pivoted dog 106, normally located in a recess 105, is adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth'when the shaft is turned to compel a complete operation thereof before return. Against the upper face "of this triangular dog106 a springpressed plate 107 bears, said plate being secured upon a rod 108, mountedin a bracket 109, secured to front casing 35, and a'coiled spring 110 is located on the rod between the bracket and plate to yieldingly hold the latter against the dog 106. When the disk 104 turns,

in another recess 1'05, and its inclination will change to permit the return of the disk and shaft to their former positions.

By reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 10 it will be the five-cent chute. This deflector 111 when a five-cent coin is placed in the chute willbe swung upthereby and the coin pass into the coin-guide 41,.and should a coin smaller than a five-cent 'iece bejinserted in the fivecent chute it wil [fall through the open bottom thereof,as it is too narrow to reach to the ledges or grooves at the. sides of the chute;

but it has been found that if a one-cent coin b6., P0lS(-)d in the five-cent slot andgiven a sharp blow its momentum will be sufficient to carry it to :gthe coin-guide 41, and to prevent this deflector 111 is located in the five-cent chute, against which a smaller coin will strike and be deflected into the below. A removable door 1 12 is provided in casing delivery pocket storage-frame to fill the columns and to gain access to the cash-receptacle, and a section of front casing 35 is made removable to gain ac,- cess to the coin-controller mechanism, both of said removable sections being securely rlockedin their closed positions, but capable of removal when the proper key is used.

androd 102 to swing the catch-bar 103 to its follows: We will suppose t e purchaser do:

The operation of my 1m rovements is as siresifive-cent goods. He gras s knob 13 and turns the storage-frame unti the proper column is atthe front ratchet-lever 75 ,iserve ing to properly-center the column. ,By so movin the storage-frame the screw 48' in star-w eel 49 will depress cam-plate 47 and compel deflector 43 to move behind the five-cent chute, so as to deflecta five-cent coin into coin-guide 41', ,down which it Trails onto the segment 60 and is supported man .1, through vwhich'access can be had to the i upright position by the holder 57, which lat ter is coupled'to. the se ment by the coin. Should coins be deposite in the other chutes, they would jump over guide 41 andfall into the delivery-pocket, and should a smaller coin be entered in the five-cent chute it will either fall from the chute or strike the defl'ec tor 1 11 and be ejected therefrom into the de' livery-pocket below. With the segmenttl) and holder 57 coupled together by the coin, shaft 77 can be turned by crank-arm 98, the

first movement being to force the'holder'57 inward to move the locking-pawl 80 outof locked engagement with the segment, when the shaft 77 will be free to turn. The turning of shaft 77 through the medium of screws or ins 85 serves to draw arm 86 fprward'and pull the carriage 91 with the ejector 25 there on forward. The ejector .25 engages the lowest carton or box and forces it out'from the column into'the delivery-pocket, and the coin falls from segment 60 down into the coin-receptacle, When arm 98 is released, spring 99 will return all the parts to the normal positions, ready for the next purchaser. When a column is empty,'the weight-finger 29 will engage camlate 34 and move dlsk 65 seen that a depending deflector 111 is hinged 1 37 to designate the act at the open Window has begun its movement the lever 101 throu h the medium of catch-bar 103 will lock the ratchet-lever 75 and revent movement of the storage-frame. t will thus be seen that my improved machine is honest to itself and to the public, for it cannot cheat a purchaser nor can a purchaser cheat it.

A great many slight changes might be made in'the general form and arrangementof the parts described without de arting from my invention, and hence I wouiil have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within, the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, of a vertical shaft therein having means outside of the casing to turn the same, a storage-frame secured on said shaft and adapted to contain cartons or boxes with goods therein, a star-wheel on said shaft, and a ratchet lever engaging the periphery of said star-wheel.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, of a vertical shaft therein having means outside of the casing for turning said shaft, "a st0rage frame secured on the shaft and adapted to contain oods to be vended, a star-wheel on said shaft, a ratchetlever engaging the star-wheel, and means for locking said lever in locked engagement with the star-wheel when ejector mechanism is operated.

3.- In a vending-machine, the combination with a casin ,of a rotarystorage-frame therein, a star-w eel movable with the frame, a ratchet-lever pivoted between its ends, a roller at one end of said lever engaging the star-wheel, an ejector, a shaft to operate the ejector, and means for locking said lever in locked engagement with the star-wheel to hold the storage-frame when the shaft is operated.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotary storage-frame and a star-wheel fixed thereto, of a ratchet-lever pivoted between its ends and one end engaging the periphery of the star-wheel, a pivoted lockingbar having a notched end to be moved in the path of the lever and hold it in position to lock the star-wheel and frame, an ejector-operating shaft, 2; disk thereon having a notch or recess in its periphery and a lever havin one end normal y in sai notch or recess an when the disk is turned to move the lever out of the notch adapted to raise the locking-bar to lock the ratchet-lever. 5. In a vending-machine, the combinatio with a casing having an opening or window therein, of a rotary storage-frame for goods to be vended comprising a series of radial columns for goods, weights located on to of each and every column of goods, and an indicator, and devices connected with said indicator and operated by a weight in any empty column, to move the indicator and designate the fact of any empty column at the opening or window. 6. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having an opening or window therein, of a rotary storage-frame in said casing having a series of radial columns for goods to be vended, a weight in each and every column on top of the pile of goods, a counterweighted rotary disk ehind the window having the word Empty or other like printed matter thereon normally out of alinement of the window, and means operated by a weight in an empty column for turning the disk to expose the word Empty at the window.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having anopenin or window in its front, of a counterweighte rotary disk behind the window having the word Empty thereon normally out of alincment with the window, a rotary storage-frame in the casing having a series of radial compartments for goods to be vended, a wei ht on to of the goods in each and every mfiumn, a mger on each weight projecting out beyond the frame, a double cam-plate pivoted at one end and in the path of a weighted finger in an empty column to be depressed thereby, and a rod connecting the free end of this camplate with the disk to turn the latter and display the word Empty at the window when the cam plate is depressed by a weighted finger.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotary vending-frame comprising a top plate, a seriesjof radial partitions secured to the top plate, a cylinder secured to the central portion of the top plate, depending therefrom and through which the inner edges of the partitions pass, a rin or disk secured in the cylinder near its Iower end, bottom plates secured tot-he lower ends of the partitions at opposite sides providing a space for an ejector etween them, plates connectin the outer edges of the partitions but spaced from the bottom plates to allow a sin le carton or box to pass below them, shutters hinged to said outer plates, and catches on the to late to secure the upper ends of said hinge s utters.

9. s. a vending-machine, the combination with a casing, a vertical shaft therein, and a stora e-f'rame secured on said shaft, of a removable cover on said casing through which pivoted at one end to one sideof the block or the shaft projects, inwardly-projecting pins' on a depending flange of the cover, to enter inclined slots inthe casin and a spring-metal tongue over one of said slots having an opening to receive and lock a pinand bent to permit its iisplacement by the pin in entering the sloti- ,.:1 0. In a vending-machine, the combinatimr with a column or receptacle fora pile of cartons or boxes to be vended, of a sliding block. or carriage below the same, an ejector carriage, a spring to hold the ejector in an inclined position to 'engage'the inner end. of the lowest carton, a rotary shaft, an arm SWUIID' by said shaft, and a pitrnan connecting saidarm-and carriageor block.

11. In avending-machinepthe combina,

tion With a fixed ejector-guide, and a sliding ejector thereon,of a storage-frame comprising aseries of radial columns or compartments any one of which may be disposed in front of the ejector, a rotary shaft, an arm loose thereon,a disk secured to the shaft, pins or screws on the face of said disk on opposite sides of the arm to move the same, anda pit- Inan connecting the arm with the ejector to move the latter When the shaftis turned.

12. In a Vending-machine, the combina-.

tion with a shaft to operate the ejector mechanism, of a disk on said shafthaving a series ofteeth on its periphery and a recessat both ends thereof, a triangular dog mounted to turn on pivot and having one of itspoints normally in a disk recess a longitudinallymovable rod, 21 plate thereon against a face'of said triangular do and a spring pressing said plate against the og to hold it in an inclined position to compel the disk to be turned throughout the entire series of teeth before it can return or until the dog shall enter the recess at the end of the teeth and its position be reversed. V.

In testimony whereof- I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscriblng Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. WHITNEY. Witnesses:

" Jar Terr EYoK, WM. A. SMITH. 

